Hello! I have been dreading blogging. This post is read by quite a few family and friends, and it keeps me honestly evaluating my progress, or lack thereof. Despite my best intentions to get my training underway, life intervenes! Am I not dedicated enough? Is that it? Is it that now is not the time? Perhaps in the Spring when mother nature is kinder and baby is older and on solid food? Will that be the perfect storm of circumstance that I am needing? Perhaps when I am 80 I can be the oldest eventer alive? ;)
The weather has turned bitter. It was 12 degrees without figuring the wind chill this morning. Snow lingers on the ground, and the footing of the arena is frozen solid. I was hoping the footing would somehow have just a bit of fluff on top so that I could ride, but that obviously was just some California Dreamin'.
A couple of setbacks have been suffered by the Second Chance Team. Firstly, we have lost our staunchest supporter... at least for the short term. My husband's work has been taking him away for weeks at a time, and therefore the morning riding has been a no-go as the baby needs supervision. Until his workload becomes more manageable and LOCAL, we will be searching for alternative ways to get the riding in. If that is at all possible.
The second setback has been what I call a Monster Cold that both my husband and I caught. I have never had a cold like this. On Thanksiving I started coming down with it and had 48 hours of fever and chills. No riding out in the cold (first snow at Thanksgiving too!) for me. I ended up wussing out and going to an Urgent Care clinic on Sunday because my husband was leaving for a week on Monday and I wasn't sure how I would do without his helping take care of the horse chores and the baby. I went through a whole course of antibiotics that week and had to call and get a different prescription so that something would help. Luckily the sweet baby has not caught the cold. I was envisioning us at Children's Mercy if he did.
The horses are utilizing their stalls and barn at night in this bitter cold. They are doing great as far as pasture/stall ornaments go.
And... we are back at square one. Is it kindest to myself to just lay off the ambition for the winter? Do I keep pushing and making myself crazy? It is times like these when I wish I were a Type B personality.
Until next time.
P~
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Long Time.... No Post!
Sorry it has been so long since I have posted to my blog! I have been trying to ride at 0' dark-thirty in the mornings... and that, along with motherhood has definitely left me with little time and energy for posting updates! :)
Let me see... where to begin? Well, Miss Tokaj has had the dust groomed off her saddle patch and has been an absolute ANGEL for having been off work for many months. We are mainly working on both of our fitness levels. I have ventured into the jumping saddle too. Wow, that used to be my home! Now it feels so foreign. Did I really ride with that short of stirrup? I am definitely more comfortable in my dressage saddle. So, basically since eventing is 2/3 jumping, I will be doing far more time in the jumping saddle this winter. I am still hoping to attend some of the Fort Leavenworth Hunt Club outings this year, but need to get in much better condition for that. It is definitely not for the unfit or faint of spirit!
The arena is riding really well. The footing may be a tad deep in places, but I recently acquired a springtooth rake to redistribute some of the depth. It is holding up just great with the rainfall we have had. Now I am envisioning a course of really beautiful fences out there this Spring... of course "someone" (me and perhaps my husband with some bribes) needs to paint and build jumps first.
I have ridden Savannah some more. She is very unimpressed with the whole riding thing. She turns her head to the side, cocks an ear at me like, "What? Like this is a big deal? Sit there all you want!". She is looking more and more like she is going to make a great all around horse, and a future schoolmaster for my son! She is now learning to go forward, stop, turn, and back up. She is a lot of fun.
The bad news is that winter is rolling back in. Wasn't it just here a few weeks ago? I have had one morning of riding in the twenties. And this is only NOVEMBER. We will see how it goes. The time has changed and I am riding in the darkness... well, I have lights on the arena, but there are lots of shadows. It is not like stadium lighting by any means. It is somewhat disorienting to ride in the semi-darkness too. I am not complaining though. When I force myself out into the cold for a morning training session... the rest of the day goes much better. It is rather like exercise in that you hate to get up and do it, but when you do you feel a million bucks all day.
Happy Riding!
P~
Let me see... where to begin? Well, Miss Tokaj has had the dust groomed off her saddle patch and has been an absolute ANGEL for having been off work for many months. We are mainly working on both of our fitness levels. I have ventured into the jumping saddle too. Wow, that used to be my home! Now it feels so foreign. Did I really ride with that short of stirrup? I am definitely more comfortable in my dressage saddle. So, basically since eventing is 2/3 jumping, I will be doing far more time in the jumping saddle this winter. I am still hoping to attend some of the Fort Leavenworth Hunt Club outings this year, but need to get in much better condition for that. It is definitely not for the unfit or faint of spirit!
The arena is riding really well. The footing may be a tad deep in places, but I recently acquired a springtooth rake to redistribute some of the depth. It is holding up just great with the rainfall we have had. Now I am envisioning a course of really beautiful fences out there this Spring... of course "someone" (me and perhaps my husband with some bribes) needs to paint and build jumps first.
I have ridden Savannah some more. She is very unimpressed with the whole riding thing. She turns her head to the side, cocks an ear at me like, "What? Like this is a big deal? Sit there all you want!". She is looking more and more like she is going to make a great all around horse, and a future schoolmaster for my son! She is now learning to go forward, stop, turn, and back up. She is a lot of fun.
The bad news is that winter is rolling back in. Wasn't it just here a few weeks ago? I have had one morning of riding in the twenties. And this is only NOVEMBER. We will see how it goes. The time has changed and I am riding in the darkness... well, I have lights on the arena, but there are lots of shadows. It is not like stadium lighting by any means. It is somewhat disorienting to ride in the semi-darkness too. I am not complaining though. When I force myself out into the cold for a morning training session... the rest of the day goes much better. It is rather like exercise in that you hate to get up and do it, but when you do you feel a million bucks all day.
Happy Riding!
P~
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
My Office
They say a picture is worth a thousand words... so here are some photos:
The sand is finally here and the arena will be ready in a day or so! Is it Christmas already?
P~
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Stutter Steps
Well, I did not get the start that I had anticipated in my last blog posting. The rain came in, and boy did it ever rain. I was out in the downpour with the tractor digging out the drains off of our driveway to the barn, and laying railroad ties with my super-patient husband to divert the rainwater from the arena. It sure was stressful trying to save the forward progress that we were making on the arena. Sand is due to arrive on Monday (although we have more reports of impending rain!!!!).
Needless to say, I did not get the start with Tokaj that I had hoped either. The grass became wet and slick, and with no sand on the arena... I had to quit working with her. So she is back to burning hay, and rolling in the mud. She's quite happy with that.
You will notice a new photo on my blog. The photo is of Savannah. She is my three year old half Thoroughbred Paint. I caught her up last weekend to trim her feet and groom her. I realized that the horses are growing their winter coats, and I decided to get photos before they do. I did not get Tokaj that day though. I hope to start Savannah under saddle this Fall.
One sad piece of news. I made the very difficult decision to have Bailey put to sleep. Bailey developed cataracts a year or so ago, and also had that lump which was strongly suspected to be bone cancer which was growing larger and in an inoperable location. Bailey started behaving strangely and I don't know whether it was his eyesight or other physical issues, but he was becoming so fearful that he would shy and bolt at anything, even people like me who he has known for years. The last deciding factor was my attempt to get Bailey into the barn before the storm hit. He shied while being haltered, as he has been a million times before, and he reared up and came down hitting me on the head and knocking me down. I thought he had broken my neck or at least compressed my vetrebra after I heard my neck pop. Thankfully, I only suffered some whiplash-like effects. If it had not been wet and slick out, and my feet had not come out from under me immediately... I think worse would have happened. It seemed in the best interest of everyone to make the decision. I felt sorry for Bailey having to live in such fear all the time. I have said it before; Horse ownership can be so heartbreaking.
P~
Needless to say, I did not get the start with Tokaj that I had hoped either. The grass became wet and slick, and with no sand on the arena... I had to quit working with her. So she is back to burning hay, and rolling in the mud. She's quite happy with that.
You will notice a new photo on my blog. The photo is of Savannah. She is my three year old half Thoroughbred Paint. I caught her up last weekend to trim her feet and groom her. I realized that the horses are growing their winter coats, and I decided to get photos before they do. I did not get Tokaj that day though. I hope to start Savannah under saddle this Fall.
One sad piece of news. I made the very difficult decision to have Bailey put to sleep. Bailey developed cataracts a year or so ago, and also had that lump which was strongly suspected to be bone cancer which was growing larger and in an inoperable location. Bailey started behaving strangely and I don't know whether it was his eyesight or other physical issues, but he was becoming so fearful that he would shy and bolt at anything, even people like me who he has known for years. The last deciding factor was my attempt to get Bailey into the barn before the storm hit. He shied while being haltered, as he has been a million times before, and he reared up and came down hitting me on the head and knocking me down. I thought he had broken my neck or at least compressed my vetrebra after I heard my neck pop. Thankfully, I only suffered some whiplash-like effects. If it had not been wet and slick out, and my feet had not come out from under me immediately... I think worse would have happened. It seemed in the best interest of everyone to make the decision. I felt sorry for Bailey having to live in such fear all the time. I have said it before; Horse ownership can be so heartbreaking.
P~
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
The Starting Line
Finally, I am starting the horses back into work. Tokaj has just finished her second day of Lunging for Fitness... which basically means that I am working her from the ground on a long line to get her muscles and cardio system more fit before I heft myself onto her unsuspecting back. :)
Tokaj came back into work with gusto. She bucked and played on the lunge and made me afraid that she would slip and fall on the dewy grass... but she is very agile and didn't have a mishap. She got herself all worked into a sweat before we really even got down to business and worked on communication, obedience, and transitions. By the time we were finished, she was ready for a treat and a bath.
This morning was Tokaj's second morning back, and it was rather like watching a weekend athlete get out for the second day after a day of playing weekend warrior. This morning Tokaj did exactly what was asked of her and no more! I think she was a bit stiff and sore. Kind of like me starting to work out. Tokaj looks pregnant. It is all the good food she gets, and no competition for it. I envisioned going to a clinic and having the clinician say..."Ummm...YOU recently had a baby... and Tokaj is GOING to have a baby right?" Sigh.
So, for those of you wondering... here is how the schedule is playing out: 5am... I get out of bed to feed the baby. 5:30am... out to the barn to work Tokaj and then feed horses since my husband can watch the baby until he has to go to work. 7:00am... back to being a mommy. 6pm or 7pm... out to the barn to work either Bailey or Savannah and feed for the evening. Dedication you say? Absolutely.
And no, the arena is not finished. I am guesstimating that it is about three weeks out, and so I am lunging the horses on the grass until then, so that by the time the arena is ready, the horses and I will be ready for under saddle work... in other words: RIDING!! YEAH!!
So the other area of work is my fitness level. If you've ever had to put on a pair of english riding breeches... you understand my pain. They are little better than spandex tights. They don't look so good on pregnant ladies or post partum ladies either (or really ANYONE except 12 year old girls... but I am trying to minimize the shock impact). So... during the afternoon when baby is napping, I get in a workout in our small gym. I have never been so sore. I used to be the Ab Queen (yes that is a self-designation!), but after the baby... I was apalled to find that I could not even do ONE full sit up. It was as if someone removed my abdominal muscle. Yikes. Dressage (the first phase of the Three Day Event competition) necessitates the use of your core muscles. I definitely need to find mine again. So I am embarking on a fitness regime that I used during my law enforcement days. It will kick my considerable assets into shape in no time. If you are curious you can check it out at http://www.crossfit.com/. However, if you embark on the challenge of completing the "Workout of the Day"... don't blame me if you are very sore or get injured. The workout is very hardcore, and although I love the results, you have to leave your ego at the door and go very VERY slowly at first.
Another great thing has happened that I have to share. I have been asked a few times lately about being a riding instructor again. (For those of you who don't know, a long long time ago, I used to teach riding and really liked it... but I wasn't making enough $ to support my other habits like horse collecting). So, rather than hang out a shingle here where no one knows me, I got in touch with the United States Eventing Association to discuss their Instructor Certification Program, and it turns out, that despite my long absence from teaching and competing, they still would welcome me into their workshops and later the assessments for certification. I am very excited to get back into teaching and to get closer to the USEA.
So I am busy. Happy busy. Hope you are too.
P~
Tokaj came back into work with gusto. She bucked and played on the lunge and made me afraid that she would slip and fall on the dewy grass... but she is very agile and didn't have a mishap. She got herself all worked into a sweat before we really even got down to business and worked on communication, obedience, and transitions. By the time we were finished, she was ready for a treat and a bath.
This morning was Tokaj's second morning back, and it was rather like watching a weekend athlete get out for the second day after a day of playing weekend warrior. This morning Tokaj did exactly what was asked of her and no more! I think she was a bit stiff and sore. Kind of like me starting to work out. Tokaj looks pregnant. It is all the good food she gets, and no competition for it. I envisioned going to a clinic and having the clinician say..."Ummm...YOU recently had a baby... and Tokaj is GOING to have a baby right?" Sigh.
So, for those of you wondering... here is how the schedule is playing out: 5am... I get out of bed to feed the baby. 5:30am... out to the barn to work Tokaj and then feed horses since my husband can watch the baby until he has to go to work. 7:00am... back to being a mommy. 6pm or 7pm... out to the barn to work either Bailey or Savannah and feed for the evening. Dedication you say? Absolutely.
And no, the arena is not finished. I am guesstimating that it is about three weeks out, and so I am lunging the horses on the grass until then, so that by the time the arena is ready, the horses and I will be ready for under saddle work... in other words: RIDING!! YEAH!!
So the other area of work is my fitness level. If you've ever had to put on a pair of english riding breeches... you understand my pain. They are little better than spandex tights. They don't look so good on pregnant ladies or post partum ladies either (or really ANYONE except 12 year old girls... but I am trying to minimize the shock impact). So... during the afternoon when baby is napping, I get in a workout in our small gym. I have never been so sore. I used to be the Ab Queen (yes that is a self-designation!), but after the baby... I was apalled to find that I could not even do ONE full sit up. It was as if someone removed my abdominal muscle. Yikes. Dressage (the first phase of the Three Day Event competition) necessitates the use of your core muscles. I definitely need to find mine again. So I am embarking on a fitness regime that I used during my law enforcement days. It will kick my considerable assets into shape in no time. If you are curious you can check it out at http://www.crossfit.com/. However, if you embark on the challenge of completing the "Workout of the Day"... don't blame me if you are very sore or get injured. The workout is very hardcore, and although I love the results, you have to leave your ego at the door and go very VERY slowly at first.
Another great thing has happened that I have to share. I have been asked a few times lately about being a riding instructor again. (For those of you who don't know, a long long time ago, I used to teach riding and really liked it... but I wasn't making enough $ to support my other habits like horse collecting). So, rather than hang out a shingle here where no one knows me, I got in touch with the United States Eventing Association to discuss their Instructor Certification Program, and it turns out, that despite my long absence from teaching and competing, they still would welcome me into their workshops and later the assessments for certification. I am very excited to get back into teaching and to get closer to the USEA.
So I am busy. Happy busy. Hope you are too.
P~
Monday, August 18, 2008
The Long Walk
Suddenly progress is being made on the arena! The base is fully in, and there is a mountain of railroad ties wating to be installed as a border to keep the base and sand from migrating down the hill during Missouri rainstorms.. otherwise known as "gullywashers" to the local folk. The base looks really good and I am in the process of speeding along it's curing time. The base is made of crushed lime and when wet and then dried it compacts to the hardness of concrete... which is what you want in an arena base. So I am sprinkling it and planning on driving the tractor over it many times to speed compaction, and then let it dry in the heat we are suddenly having... hey, I'm not complaining after all of that rain. Summer is finally here... although I bet Fall is like two weeks away!
We are busy intalling the railroad tie border and once that is in... then I get the icing on the cake which is the sand that makes an arena so cushy to horse hoofs during exercises like jumping!!
The title of this blog entry is "The Long Walk" because I thought I would share my experience this weekend. My husband and I decided to get out of the house with the baby. We went to a local walking trail that is around a pretty lake. I had not really thought about how exactly out of shape I am until we attempted what would have been a short walk in my former life.... 2 miles or so. Well, I am sore, blistered, and tired from a short walk! Sigh. Guess I better get to working out. My arena sand will be here and I won't have the core strength to ride my wild beasts on it! Wish me luck.
P~
We are busy intalling the railroad tie border and once that is in... then I get the icing on the cake which is the sand that makes an arena so cushy to horse hoofs during exercises like jumping!!
The title of this blog entry is "The Long Walk" because I thought I would share my experience this weekend. My husband and I decided to get out of the house with the baby. We went to a local walking trail that is around a pretty lake. I had not really thought about how exactly out of shape I am until we attempted what would have been a short walk in my former life.... 2 miles or so. Well, I am sore, blistered, and tired from a short walk! Sigh. Guess I better get to working out. My arena sand will be here and I won't have the core strength to ride my wild beasts on it! Wish me luck.
P~
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Slow Beginnings....
Just a short update.... I have finally gotten my hands on the horses for a significant amount of time (defined as: longer than the couple of seconds needed to push past them to put feed in their bins!). I had the horses' feet trimmed exactly 8 weeks prior to my son's due date. So, obviously I could not have the shoer out due to my inability to help him. Unfortunately I cannot boast about having horses that will stand tied while being trimmed or shod. They have been off work and not exercised since February and so they don't act as if they have manners anymore! I couldn't have my wonderful farrier, Russell getting hurt and refusing to come shoe for me. So I decided that after I had the baby, I would be in a better position to help Russell keep the horses in line.
Well, turns out that Russell is either very busy, or he is hiding from me and my unruly menagerie of horses. Hmmm. So, I decided to trim Savannah and Bailey myself. A lot of my horsey friends wonder why any horse lady would actually do farrier work (it is back breaking and somewhat dangerous if you are working on horses that are prone to naughtiness), but I have always felt that hoof care is such an essential part of horsemanship, that I wanted to know how to do it myself if I needed to for financial or other reasons such as if the farrier is in hiding until I can train my mob. Sigh. Special thanks to Danny, Jack, and David who mentored me. One of whom said, "Hey, that's a pretty good job... for a girl!"
Savannah was the first victim. She stood quietly in the crossties while being groomed, and then I trimmed her feet. It was painless and she was a very good girl...hmmm could they have missed me and now are on their best behavior?
Then came Bailey who I expected the most trouble from. Bailey decided that he too could be a good boy. Despite being a little snorty and spooky, he let me trim his overgrown hooves in record time. :) Now I REALLY want to start riding. I forgot what nice horses I have.
Tokaj is next, but I am hoping to coax Russell out to shoe her so that I can get going on some under saddle training and jumping with her.
Arena update: The arena is going to get some work done on it on Monday. Hopefully this will be the last week and all will be complete until the base cures and we need sand for riding!
Happy trails!
P~
Well, turns out that Russell is either very busy, or he is hiding from me and my unruly menagerie of horses. Hmmm. So, I decided to trim Savannah and Bailey myself. A lot of my horsey friends wonder why any horse lady would actually do farrier work (it is back breaking and somewhat dangerous if you are working on horses that are prone to naughtiness), but I have always felt that hoof care is such an essential part of horsemanship, that I wanted to know how to do it myself if I needed to for financial or other reasons such as if the farrier is in hiding until I can train my mob. Sigh. Special thanks to Danny, Jack, and David who mentored me. One of whom said, "Hey, that's a pretty good job... for a girl!"
Savannah was the first victim. She stood quietly in the crossties while being groomed, and then I trimmed her feet. It was painless and she was a very good girl...hmmm could they have missed me and now are on their best behavior?
Then came Bailey who I expected the most trouble from. Bailey decided that he too could be a good boy. Despite being a little snorty and spooky, he let me trim his overgrown hooves in record time. :) Now I REALLY want to start riding. I forgot what nice horses I have.
Tokaj is next, but I am hoping to coax Russell out to shoe her so that I can get going on some under saddle training and jumping with her.
Arena update: The arena is going to get some work done on it on Monday. Hopefully this will be the last week and all will be complete until the base cures and we need sand for riding!
Happy trails!
P~
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Rain Rain Go Away!!!
Rain Rain go away, come again some other far far away day! So there is some WONDERFUL BIG news, and there is some bad news.
First, the WONDERFUL BIG news: I delivered a healthy, beautiful baby boy on July 5th (hence the absence from posting on this site). I am a mom, and still getting used to the title. I love love love my baby boy and am the happiest (and tiredest!) that I have been EVER. Life just keeps on getting better. My life as it is right now is what I have been waiting and hoping for, even during times when I wasn't sure I ever wanted to be married, or have a family. Now I can't imagine continuing down the path I was on prior to meeting my husband and my life changing for the better.
The bad news is on the horse front. The blasted RAIN just keeps on coming. The horses are sad looking drippy things that are probably growing fungus under their fly sheets (since I don't get out enough to check!!). The arena construction has been at a halt for over a month since the ground is unworkable when wet. I am now a month post-partum and ready to start a training program with my horses (lunging for fitness at the very least!)... and there is nowhere with safe, firm footing on which to get started! AHHHH! I did not realize when we moved to Missouri that we would be facing rain similar to Seattle's... after the long winter, now we are in the extended wet spring or something. Someone give me dry and arid for a few months... HELLO....global warming anyone??? Just kidding. Last year, after the 4th of July, it was so dry that the grass started turning brown... not so this year. I hope we don't go from constant rain all spring, summer, and fall and then right back into frozen winter!
The arena builder will be here on Monday to try and finish this project. I am hoping and praying for some dry weather for at least an entire week. It is supposed to be terribly hot and humid outside, which is bad for the contractors to work out in, but hopefully there will not be any more rain. I will just have to keep lots of ice cold water on hand to keep away any heat related illness for the poor guys working outside.
Well, the next focus for me, besides of course mommyhood, is to get back some physical fitness. The horses are likely to be quite wild when I start them back under saddle, and I can't be jiggling like a bowl full of jelly! So, when I get the Doctor's blessing, I am going to get into a fitness routine again. I will let you know how that goes. I am interested in seeing if pregnancy has changed my body enough for me to notice when I am riding. Right now though, I need to focus on losing some significant weight and riding is on hold until after the rain.
P~
First, the WONDERFUL BIG news: I delivered a healthy, beautiful baby boy on July 5th (hence the absence from posting on this site). I am a mom, and still getting used to the title. I love love love my baby boy and am the happiest (and tiredest!) that I have been EVER. Life just keeps on getting better. My life as it is right now is what I have been waiting and hoping for, even during times when I wasn't sure I ever wanted to be married, or have a family. Now I can't imagine continuing down the path I was on prior to meeting my husband and my life changing for the better.
The bad news is on the horse front. The blasted RAIN just keeps on coming. The horses are sad looking drippy things that are probably growing fungus under their fly sheets (since I don't get out enough to check!!). The arena construction has been at a halt for over a month since the ground is unworkable when wet. I am now a month post-partum and ready to start a training program with my horses (lunging for fitness at the very least!)... and there is nowhere with safe, firm footing on which to get started! AHHHH! I did not realize when we moved to Missouri that we would be facing rain similar to Seattle's... after the long winter, now we are in the extended wet spring or something. Someone give me dry and arid for a few months... HELLO....global warming anyone??? Just kidding. Last year, after the 4th of July, it was so dry that the grass started turning brown... not so this year. I hope we don't go from constant rain all spring, summer, and fall and then right back into frozen winter!
The arena builder will be here on Monday to try and finish this project. I am hoping and praying for some dry weather for at least an entire week. It is supposed to be terribly hot and humid outside, which is bad for the contractors to work out in, but hopefully there will not be any more rain. I will just have to keep lots of ice cold water on hand to keep away any heat related illness for the poor guys working outside.
Well, the next focus for me, besides of course mommyhood, is to get back some physical fitness. The horses are likely to be quite wild when I start them back under saddle, and I can't be jiggling like a bowl full of jelly! So, when I get the Doctor's blessing, I am going to get into a fitness routine again. I will let you know how that goes. I am interested in seeing if pregnancy has changed my body enough for me to notice when I am riding. Right now though, I need to focus on losing some significant weight and riding is on hold until after the rain.
P~
Friday, June 6, 2008
The Sandbox
I don't need diamonds or pearls, or fancy clothes, or a sportscar.... someone please build me a giant sandbox! A sandbox that does not get sloppy or muddy in the rain, a sandbox with large enough dimensions to set up a course of jumps in, a sandbox that is not dusty, and one that will last for years.
There are some things in life that are truly worthwhile to spend money on. If you will love and use it year after year, then it might just be one of those things. I remember getting my first horse trailer and truck and feeling absolutely liberated. No more begging for a ride to a show or event, no more waiting on someone else's schedule to fit with mine. That is how I feel about having my own all weather riding arena. I don't have to pay to use someone else's all the time, and then feel like I need to make extra efforts to not be in their way when I am there. Now I can train colts and if they are naughty... there is no one to apologize to for ruining their ride. This is wonderful.
Big Big thanks to my wonderful husband, who was not a horseperson before meeting me, but who has put up with the trials and tribulations of horse care and continues to be of great encouragement. At this point, not only is he okay with turning a large piece of our property into a sandbox, but because I am four weeks away from delivering our first baby, he is even having to feed and water horses before and after work! Don't worry, I will be sure to find a way to thank him for all the joy he has brought to me. I don't know if I can ever repay him.... it means so much to me to be able to have the opportunities I have now, but I will definitely strive to make sure I do whatever I can. Big Thanks Honey!
The photos of my riding arena show the 6" lime base being put down over some geotextile fabric (aka polypropelene filter fabric). The filter fabric keeps mud from migrating up into the base layer. It will keep the base from breaking down or getting dusty. Another perk of filter fabric is that it distributes the weight of any vehicle, horse, or other load that travels across the surface and prevents low spots that can collect water. Also the fabric is water permeable so that it allows the base to drain. It is wonderful stuff. My excavator and arena builder had never heard of it and was quite skeptical about using it. After much research into arena building in rainy/muddy states, I insisted and found a supplier. Last night after 3/4 of the arena base was put down it rained hard for two hours. We got two inches of rain. The driveway where we did not lay filter fabric under the road base was wet and squishy. The arena base could be walked on without making more than a 1/2 inch footprint... if that. Now the builder wants all the information on how to get filter fabric for other jobs. :)
Well, that's the update. The horses are fat. Tokaj has a big belly that is reminiscent of mine. Bailey and Savannah are doing great and loving being outside more now that it is warm and sunny most of the time.
P~
There are some things in life that are truly worthwhile to spend money on. If you will love and use it year after year, then it might just be one of those things. I remember getting my first horse trailer and truck and feeling absolutely liberated. No more begging for a ride to a show or event, no more waiting on someone else's schedule to fit with mine. That is how I feel about having my own all weather riding arena. I don't have to pay to use someone else's all the time, and then feel like I need to make extra efforts to not be in their way when I am there. Now I can train colts and if they are naughty... there is no one to apologize to for ruining their ride. This is wonderful.
Big Big thanks to my wonderful husband, who was not a horseperson before meeting me, but who has put up with the trials and tribulations of horse care and continues to be of great encouragement. At this point, not only is he okay with turning a large piece of our property into a sandbox, but because I am four weeks away from delivering our first baby, he is even having to feed and water horses before and after work! Don't worry, I will be sure to find a way to thank him for all the joy he has brought to me. I don't know if I can ever repay him.... it means so much to me to be able to have the opportunities I have now, but I will definitely strive to make sure I do whatever I can. Big Thanks Honey!
The photos of my riding arena show the 6" lime base being put down over some geotextile fabric (aka polypropelene filter fabric). The filter fabric keeps mud from migrating up into the base layer. It will keep the base from breaking down or getting dusty. Another perk of filter fabric is that it distributes the weight of any vehicle, horse, or other load that travels across the surface and prevents low spots that can collect water. Also the fabric is water permeable so that it allows the base to drain. It is wonderful stuff. My excavator and arena builder had never heard of it and was quite skeptical about using it. After much research into arena building in rainy/muddy states, I insisted and found a supplier. Last night after 3/4 of the arena base was put down it rained hard for two hours. We got two inches of rain. The driveway where we did not lay filter fabric under the road base was wet and squishy. The arena base could be walked on without making more than a 1/2 inch footprint... if that. Now the builder wants all the information on how to get filter fabric for other jobs. :)
Well, that's the update. The horses are fat. Tokaj has a big belly that is reminiscent of mine. Bailey and Savannah are doing great and loving being outside more now that it is warm and sunny most of the time.
P~
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Horsemanship?
Horsemanship: For those of you unfamiliar with what the term means to me, I am going to explain it. Horsemanship is not only riding. It is not winning at competitions. Horsemanship is the overall goal of partnering with a horse, caring for it properly including feeding, thoughtful methodic training, grooming, shoeing or trimming, providing proper shelter, exercise, and training along with veterinary care. Competing and winning is not horsemanship. Competing and winning MIGHT be the culmination of very thoughtful horsemanship... or it might be the unfortunate result of pushing a horse too far too fast and just being lucky enough to not break the animal down in confidence, training, or health.
Horsemanship has returned to my thoughts recently. As you know, I am attempting a return to competitive eventing once I have the baby and get my horses going on a comprehensive training program (likely to start this Fall). In preparation for that time, I have been following competitive eventing through my membership in the United States Eventing Association (USEA). The USEA has a website devoted to eventing. I encourage you, if you are interested, to check out their website at www.useventing.com.
The USEA has recently begun to contemplate the safety of the cross country phase of Eventing. In recent months, at several different events, riders have been critically injured, and horses both injured and killed during the cross country phase. Cross country, and to be fair, riding in general carries with it some risk. But, in past years... when I was initially involved in the sport, the injuries and fatalities were absolutely not occurring in the numbers that they are today.
The USEA is holding a safety convention in Kentucky in early June (which I will miss due to the impending birth of my baby) but they have asked the members who cannot attend to send suggestions for making our sport safer. I have drafted and sent the letter that I will attach to this long-winded blog post for you to read if you are interested.
In contemplating safety and the reasons that our noble horses are having a harder time safely negotiating cross country courses... I have been considering that perhaps we have forgotten some aspect of our horsemanship?
This past weekend I attended a clinic that was taught by an upper level event rider and I witnessed some actions taken by riders and the clinician that greatly disturbed me in terms of horsemanship. The question we need to be asking ourselves is whether or not our horses are being trained competently and systematically to succeeed at the level we are asking them to compete?
Upon arrival at the venue of the clinic I immediately picked out a gorgeous gelding to watch (I will nickname him Mr. Mischief). He was a very high quality animal and was being ridden by a young lady who was obviously a fine rider. Before the clinic started, the rider put the gelding on the lunge line to warm up.
A thoughtful warm up for a young horse who is full of steam like Mr. Mischief is to put them on a lunge line (rope) that is about 25 feet long, with no rein/bit pressure, and ask them to alternately walk, trot, and canter in a 50 foot circle around you. Once Mr. Mischief was finished blowing off some steam and was ready to get down to work, then side reins could be attached which ask the horse to come onto the bit more, stretch the critical muscles in his back (which are now warm), and to get down to work. The generous 50' circle is used because it is hard for horses to balance on smaller circles, especially young horses, and requires more athleticism.
Unfortunately, Mr. Mischief's rider, put him immediately in side reins on an approximate 25 foot circle which is like warming up for a long run by sprinting madly about. The warm up for a horse is as much about his mental and emotional state as it is about the physical. Mr. Mischief was not allowed any gradual warm up. He seemed stressed and anxious and never relaxed or warmed into good work. By the time Mr. Mischief's rider mounted, he had a full head of steam! Mr. Mischief's rider tried to settle him by riding him, but Mr. Mischief was having none of it. He was determined to gallop away with her at the least provocation.
I was interested to see how Upper Level Clinician, was going to address Mr. Mischief and his rider. I have been to several clinics over time and was used to the warm up for jumping consisting of some work on the flat to test a horse and rider's communication, and then jump over a super easy single fence a few times to get the horse into the midset that now we are jumping... and also to warm up his jumping muscles which are used in a different way than while working on the flat. Clinician did not do much flatwork at all with Mr. Mischief before jumping. She asked Mr. Mischief's rider to canter him and then hand gallop him (fast work)... she ignored that he was pulling like a train on the reins to run away with his rider and was improving minimally if at all by the end of this 'warm up'.
Clinician then set up a technical question consisting of a rail on the ground to be approached in canter off a hard turn, two short strides to an airy oxer (a jump with width). Mr. Mischief wanted to fly through the sequence. He got in wrong several times to the oxer and was becoming more upset rather than calming into his work. He was then asked to jump the aforementioned sequence... and add an airy vertical two short strides from the oxer. Mr. Mischief would hit the ground after the first jump and madly scrabble to the second. It was getting more and more dangerous and the horse was losing his confidence. Then Miss Clinician set up a third fence on a bending line. The sequence was now, tight turn, to a ground pole, two short strides to an oxer, two short strides to an airy vertical then a bending line to another airy vertical. Mr. Mischief and his rider were barely making it through two fences without crashing, and now they were going for a third. Well, Mr. Mischief finally had the melt down that he was threatening to have since his poorly planned warm up on the lunge line. He galloped down to the third fence and then stopped and whirled. His rider was catapulted to the ground. It could have been very bad. It seemed so unnecessary. Both horse and rider had their confidence shaken after paying several hundred dollars to be taught by the Clinician.
In my past, many times, as I am sure most honest riders will say, I have shortcut the warm up, or a necessary training step in order to push to a competition or other goal too soon. I am not saying that Mr. Mischief and his rider are bad simply because they did this (although I am disappointed that Upper Level Clinician did not identify and address the issues). I am saying that this incident at the clinic, along with the real consequences being experienced on cross country courses in upper level eventing, have served to remind me that when I embark on my second chance at a competitive career in eventing, that the thing that I should stake my life, and my horses lives on... is good horsemanship... not simply praying for a one-time blue ribbon ride. My pride needs to come from my daily thoughtful approach to my horse's well-being first, and any competition successes will be further down my line of equestrian priorities.
P~
Dear Karen and USEA Officials considering the safety of Cross Country as it currently stands in our sport:
I wanted to write because I will be unable to attend the safety summit in June due to my baby being due shortly thereafter. My opinion may not be as informed or matter as much as those folks who have dedicated their lives to eventing and I expect and rely on those folks to lead us in a healthier direction. However, I did want to have my tiny say so that I felt like a contributor rather than solely a critic.
I am a returning adult rider who was a very "gutsy" (my trainer's words) jumper as a young rider who had time to dedicate to my riding. I would jump anything. I left the competitive equestrian world as so many young riders do, because of a lack of resources, including the time and money, that would lead me to the lofty goals I had been wishing to attain. I am now at a point in my life that I can once again enjoy the sport, but perhaps I will be more timid (and perhaps not...), and perhaps I will not have such lofty goals as I am now embarking simultaneously upon the task of raising a child. When I left competitive eventing 10+ years ago, there were safety concerns, such as table fences being too square, but it did not seem like there were nearly the accidents that are happening now. Also, the long format Three Day Event was still in operation.
When I was eventing before, when I was younger, I was concerned that the new safety regulations would "dumb down" the cross country that I so loved, so that the sport would largely revolved around the dressage score. When Eventing adopted the short format, I again thought that the change was going to benefit the dressage horse type. This was a type of horse that I could not afford. There are no track rejects that are also fancy warmbloods. I felt the sport was going very elite and leaving me behind as competitive dressage and showjumping already had.
I am very surprised, upon returning to the sport, that the changes in cross country have in effect created a situation that may be too dangerous. What I offer is a viewpoint, not of someone who has been so involved in the sport that they might miss the change due to gradually implemented rules, but the viewpoint of someone who has left for a while and returned to be very surprised by what I am seeing. It is rather like someone not seeing another person for years and expecting them to look the same... and being shocked at their age or other appearance issue that gradually happened over time.
I know that Eventing's short format was implemented for the safety of the horse, but it seems as if eventers wanted to toughen the course so that it would also weed out those not elite enough to be competing at that level since the horse would not be tested as an endurance animal. This is not a bad goal... but unfortunately the changes at the top end of the sport also trickle down to the lower levels because that is where you will find the young horses and riders who are preparing for those upper level divisions. As a young rider, I would not have wanted my Training level course to be so different from Prelim, or Prelim so different from Intermediate and so on, that I was climbing a ladder and getting stuck at a rung that was missing. The effort to keep cross country relevant in the outcome of short format Eventing has resulted in higher technicality, and more crazy questions (if you will excuse the term). By crazy, I mean jumping a carved duck to a bounce over a boat etc. To a human, these are cute and artsy and fun to look at. To a horse, they don't make the least bit of sense. Cross country is not showjumping.
In showjumping the horse is trained to expect the arena to be full of crazy jumps. They are desensitized through good training. However, they have some things in their favor that cross country jumpers do not... for example, they are in a contained area that changes very little venue to venue as compared to various cross country courses. They can usually expect flat, and good footing. And they are expert at jumping off of bends and turns by the time they are at the upper levels. This then requires the cute, and artsy crazy fences to help determine the best showjumper.
Cross country horses have to adapt to footing changes even within a course. They don't get to see the course ahead of time so they don't know for sure that there could be a fence off this blind bending line as a good arena horse will. They get distracted by sights that they may have never seen before. I recall jumping at Ram Tap in Fresno, CA when the train went roaring by. Showjumpers do not have to deal with that. Why then, are we making our cross country courses caricatures of showjumping courses? The horses seem overwhelmed with all that we expect of them. I don't think riders have fallen in their skill levels. I think we have missed what it is that MAKES a cross country horse such a special animal.
Eventing evolved from a military/cavalry foundation. The horses it rewarded were tough, agile, smart, willing, and loved their jobs. This is the type of horse that I want to ride and compete today. And the cross country courses, like dressage tests, at each level should challenge AND TEACH… not destroy our noble partners.
My vote would be to take a long, hard look at the evolution of our current cross country course design, and take a look at years past where the accidents and fatalities were lower, and try to get us back to tests that are reasonable challenges for our wonderful horses.
Thank you,
P~
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Spring Update
Spring has begun... I think.... here in the Kansas City area. We are supposed to get some low temps in the 30s a night or two this week though.
The horses are doing great. Here is an update on each one. I will take some nice photos one of these days after they have fully shed their winter coats. The weather has been making it difficult for them to get into their sleek and shiny skivvies for the summer!
TOKAJ
Miss Tokaj is still queen of the Second Chance Team. She is quite a character. She goes from being an aloof princess, to being in-your-pocket depending upon her mood of the day. She rules the horse pasture and eats more than the other horses, and makes sure the tastiest morsels are hers. Tokaj and I had to have some serious discussions recently about her ground manners, and not charging through stall doorways in an effort to get to the feed bin. Now we enter the stall in a step-halt, step-halt fashion. She is a quick study once she understands that there will be no discussion about why she can't just trample me on the way to the feed! :)
This winter with all of the mud, I had been putting Tokaj's tail in a sock to keep from losing the few hairs she had left and it seems to have paid off. She is no longer wearing her sock as the flies are coming out and with all of the swishing... she was forming a dreadlock. But with the tail out and brushed, I realized that we have gained a thicker and longer, pretty silvery white tail! I hope it survives the summer and that we can show it off at a clinic or competition in late Fall or next year.
BAILEY
Mr. Bailey is doing better than expected with his jaw mass. The mass has not enlarged save for a cone shaped place where the bone biopsy irritated the mass. Bailey is gaining weight (always an issue for him... I call him my anorexic horse) and is looking quite nice. I can't wait to start riding him again and especially to start him over fences when I have some nice and consistent sand arena footing to work on.
Bailey's tail was also in a sock this winter. He has the thinnest tail of the three horses. He gained some length in his tail... but maybe only three or four extra hairs thickness! Sigh. Oh well, rat tail or not... it won't matter on cross country! :)
SAVANNAH
Miss Savannah has been the biggest surprise of all! She is finally growing up into a nice horse! I wasn't so sure Savannah was going to be proportioned very well once she entered maturity, but the last couple of months have proven me wrong. Horses grow height in their hind end and then catch up with the front... well, I have never seen a young horse that was as lopsided as Savannah! She was nearly a full hand (4") different from front to back! Now she is leveling out and as a consequence it seems her neck is shaping up as well and it appears more in proportion and longer. Another surprising aspect of her development is that she seems to be losing her short and walk and trot strides (which would really hamper her development as a dressage horse or in the dressage phase of eventing). She is overtracking at the walk, and tracking up at the trot!! Who'da thought?
Also, it seems like Savannah is wanting to be my cross country horse! When Tokaj and Bailey go around a fallen log or creek to get to the other side... Savannah is perfectly happy to jump it! Although Savannah is the shortest of the three horses... I think she is only going to mature to 15.2 hands... which is 62 inches at the withers where her neck intersects with her back... I think she might be a lot of fun to try over fences!
Savannah also has some appearance points in her favor... besides her flashy spots and her one blue and one brown eye... she has a full and ever so lovely tail!! It nearly reaches the ground and is just a beautiful glossy black, with two white stripes at the very top.
Last thing about Miss Savannah... she appears to be a houdini when it comes to getting out of her shoes. I had Savannah shod in the front two weeks ago because she has thin soled Thoroughbred feet and she was getting sore. It's been two weeks since Savannah got her shiny new shoes, and she has lost them both!! My shoer and I will have to think up some sneaky options like perhaps squaring her hind toes and rolling her front toes so that she does not step on her front shoe with her hind foot and pull it off. :)
THE ARENA
The arena work is at a standstill. We have gotten some really hard rains and so far no heavy equipment can be driven onto our very soft arena location. I had hoped to have the arena base in by now so that it would have plenty of time to cure before Fall... but again, I am having to learn patience.
ME
I am huge. Pregnant and huge. The horses have been lovely to me. I lead them into and out of the barn each day to and from their pasture and they are happily walking slower and slower, and are happy to take breaks to grab some grass while I catch my breath before continuing on. It isn't that far to the barn... but for someone with lungs being squeezed by a big baby... it is! :) Otherwise... no complaints! I am happy Spring is here!
Till next time,
P~
The horses are doing great. Here is an update on each one. I will take some nice photos one of these days after they have fully shed their winter coats. The weather has been making it difficult for them to get into their sleek and shiny skivvies for the summer!
TOKAJ
Miss Tokaj is still queen of the Second Chance Team. She is quite a character. She goes from being an aloof princess, to being in-your-pocket depending upon her mood of the day. She rules the horse pasture and eats more than the other horses, and makes sure the tastiest morsels are hers. Tokaj and I had to have some serious discussions recently about her ground manners, and not charging through stall doorways in an effort to get to the feed bin. Now we enter the stall in a step-halt, step-halt fashion. She is a quick study once she understands that there will be no discussion about why she can't just trample me on the way to the feed! :)
This winter with all of the mud, I had been putting Tokaj's tail in a sock to keep from losing the few hairs she had left and it seems to have paid off. She is no longer wearing her sock as the flies are coming out and with all of the swishing... she was forming a dreadlock. But with the tail out and brushed, I realized that we have gained a thicker and longer, pretty silvery white tail! I hope it survives the summer and that we can show it off at a clinic or competition in late Fall or next year.
BAILEY
Mr. Bailey is doing better than expected with his jaw mass. The mass has not enlarged save for a cone shaped place where the bone biopsy irritated the mass. Bailey is gaining weight (always an issue for him... I call him my anorexic horse) and is looking quite nice. I can't wait to start riding him again and especially to start him over fences when I have some nice and consistent sand arena footing to work on.
Bailey's tail was also in a sock this winter. He has the thinnest tail of the three horses. He gained some length in his tail... but maybe only three or four extra hairs thickness! Sigh. Oh well, rat tail or not... it won't matter on cross country! :)
SAVANNAH
Miss Savannah has been the biggest surprise of all! She is finally growing up into a nice horse! I wasn't so sure Savannah was going to be proportioned very well once she entered maturity, but the last couple of months have proven me wrong. Horses grow height in their hind end and then catch up with the front... well, I have never seen a young horse that was as lopsided as Savannah! She was nearly a full hand (4") different from front to back! Now she is leveling out and as a consequence it seems her neck is shaping up as well and it appears more in proportion and longer. Another surprising aspect of her development is that she seems to be losing her short and walk and trot strides (which would really hamper her development as a dressage horse or in the dressage phase of eventing). She is overtracking at the walk, and tracking up at the trot!! Who'da thought?
Also, it seems like Savannah is wanting to be my cross country horse! When Tokaj and Bailey go around a fallen log or creek to get to the other side... Savannah is perfectly happy to jump it! Although Savannah is the shortest of the three horses... I think she is only going to mature to 15.2 hands... which is 62 inches at the withers where her neck intersects with her back... I think she might be a lot of fun to try over fences!
Savannah also has some appearance points in her favor... besides her flashy spots and her one blue and one brown eye... she has a full and ever so lovely tail!! It nearly reaches the ground and is just a beautiful glossy black, with two white stripes at the very top.
Last thing about Miss Savannah... she appears to be a houdini when it comes to getting out of her shoes. I had Savannah shod in the front two weeks ago because she has thin soled Thoroughbred feet and she was getting sore. It's been two weeks since Savannah got her shiny new shoes, and she has lost them both!! My shoer and I will have to think up some sneaky options like perhaps squaring her hind toes and rolling her front toes so that she does not step on her front shoe with her hind foot and pull it off. :)
THE ARENA
The arena work is at a standstill. We have gotten some really hard rains and so far no heavy equipment can be driven onto our very soft arena location. I had hoped to have the arena base in by now so that it would have plenty of time to cure before Fall... but again, I am having to learn patience.
ME
I am huge. Pregnant and huge. The horses have been lovely to me. I lead them into and out of the barn each day to and from their pasture and they are happily walking slower and slower, and are happy to take breaks to grab some grass while I catch my breath before continuing on. It isn't that far to the barn... but for someone with lungs being squeezed by a big baby... it is! :) Otherwise... no complaints! I am happy Spring is here!
Till next time,
P~
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Could It Be.... Winter is Over???
I sure as heck hope that winter is indeed over! The above photo was taken in December of the creek that runs through the Second Chance Event Team property. Even though this photo was taken at the beginning of winter... it was that way off and on (more on!) pretty much through the entire winter. It was VERY cold for a native Californian. Keeping horses in the snow, ice, and mud has been quite an adventure. I was tempted to do as the neighbors did and just toss them out and throw them a big bale of hay.
Fortunately, for my horses, my conscience would not permit me to feel okay about sending them out in the cold. Instead we built them a nice barn where they spent their evenings luxuriating in their warm stalls with their soft shavings to lay down on. They had a housekeeper (me) cleaning their stalls once a day if they went outside for the daytime, or twice a day if it was too nasty to turn them out. They had a food fairy (me) feeding them three times a day to keep them occupied with something besides tearing down the barn, or chewing on trees. They had a wardrobe consultant and dresser (me) who made sure they were layered appropriately for the cold outside and that on wet days they had a waterproof blanket on. They had a groomer and hairstylist (me) who made sure they were not so laden with clay mud that they were carrying over 100lbs of it, and who made sure tails were braided and in socks so that the mud did not stick the hairs together like a big baseball bat that they could knock themselves and eachother around with. All in all, I would say the equine members of the Second Chance Event Team had life pretty good this winter.
I on the other hand... hated it. This very sad looking tree from our front yard echoed my feelings each morning I ventured outside. Even though I did get to ride at Stonewall in the indoor arena.. it was still a very harsh winter for me. Okay, okay, those of you in FARGO are snickering at the Princess... but I just don't even want to get out of the house in the winter here.
My new friends and neighbors have told me that this is NOT normal and has been a very harsh winter. I sure do hope they are right. We ended the winter with over two feet of total snowfall, lots of ice storms taking out the power, days with windchill below zero, and many days in the single digits, teens, and low 20s. That is too cold for this CA Girl.
But.... Spring is beginning! This area is just gorgeous in Spring, Summer, and Fall. The grass stays a lush green (unlike my former homes in CA and ID in Summer and Fall), and there are huge trees providing shade and the wonderful rustling when the breeze blows through them. I am sure by the end of April, I will remember why I really love this area and the memory of my frozen fingers and toes, and of chopping ice in horse waterers will be fading and it will all seem very worth it.
I have been promising better photos of the barn for some time and this morning decided (after I cleaned the barn!) to take some photos of it and include some inside photos.
This is a photo of the stall fronts. There are three stalls with sliding doors.
This is a photo of the aisleway and hay storage area. The door leads into the tackroom.
This is a single stall front. The top 1/2 of the dutch door leading to the outside is open, but can be closed up when weather is bad... or the occupant of the stall is pawing the door!
This is the inside of the tackroom. I still have a lot of organizing to do as you can see.
This is a view of inside the horse stall. I had planned on attached corner mangers for feed... but the budget did not permit this winter and I will add them later. For now the horses are content with a plebian black feed tub and water buckets.
An overview of the outside of the barn with the dutch doors open. As you can see there is no green grass or leaves on the trees yet, but with the lovely weather we are having it won't be long now.Arena Building
My main project recently is the design and construction of an all weather outdoor riding arena and also some landscaping and measures to make horsekeeping in winter a lot more convenient.
I have settled on a contractor to do all of the arena and landscape work, and I have researched the materials for the arena in depth. What I have come up with is that first the area to be used as the arena needs to have about four inches of topsoil and organic material removed from it. Then we will need approximately 500 tons.. YES TONS of lime screenings spread evenly 6" deeep over the prepared surface. The lime will harded like concrete once compacted and weathered (known as "curing") for a while. The hardness of the base is necessary to keep the horses from churning up the arena into a big mud and sand pit. The surface will have a 1% -2% slope to it for drainage of water. On top of the lime base will be approximately 300 tons of medium grain quartz sand to provide cushioning for the horses while they are working. The said is washed and dust free. Quartz is very hard so it will take a while for horses to crush it into dust as they are worked on the surface. The arena will be bordered on the downhill side by 1/2 buried railroad ties to prevent the migration of the lime base and the washing away of the sand.
Well, that's the scoop for now. I hope Spring is bringing the best out in you too!
P~
Friday, March 7, 2008
Update on Bailey
Bailey had a bone biopsy done on his jaw mass. It is definitely "reactive bone" (which means bone that appears normal, but due to its inappropriate size and positioning is basically reacting to something else). Bone cancer is notoriously hard to diagnose. Cancer cells can be deep inside the bone mass and the body reacts by layering normal bone over the cancerous middle, thus creating the mass.
Anyway, since a fracture is not likely given the x-ray showed nothing of that sort, and it is definitely not a soft tissue problem like an abscess, and an issue with teeth has been ruled out. It is most likely cancer. It is not reassuring to have to diagnose something by ruling other things out, but it appears that this may be what has to be done here. Bailey's vet has said that some bone cancers are not properly diagnosed until after the horse has passed and a necropsy is done.
Right now, Bailey is on a course of strong antibiotics in the event that there is an infection deep in the bone. We are doing this to cover all bases, but an infection of that sort is not likely due to the fact that Bailey has not been running a high temperature, nor has he been off his feed. An infection like that should make a horse pretty sick.
After the antibiotics, there is the option of x-raying again to see if we can find a pattern of less dense bone in the center of the mass which will indicate that cancer has progressed to eating away at the bone. Perhaps we caught it early and that is why the x-ray did not show the tell-tale shadowing in the center areas of the mass that would indicate cancer.
Unfortunately, if we did catch a cancer early... it won't be helpful to Bailey like it would be to a person. Some equine bone cancers metastasize to other organs very quickly and once they are visible, they have already moved on. And even if this cancer is localized in his jaw... it is where the bit goes, and removal of the mass in it's entirety would be necessary and would disrupt the jaw structure so much that I am not sure it would be wise to attempt for the sake of Bailey's quality of life after such drastic surgery.
So that is where we are. I am giving Bailey time so that his body can decide what it is going to do, and so that we get some clearer indications before making any decisions. For now he is eating well, and the one day we had sunny weather, he was bucking and playing, and driving his pasture mates crazy just like the old Bailey.
P~
Anyway, since a fracture is not likely given the x-ray showed nothing of that sort, and it is definitely not a soft tissue problem like an abscess, and an issue with teeth has been ruled out. It is most likely cancer. It is not reassuring to have to diagnose something by ruling other things out, but it appears that this may be what has to be done here. Bailey's vet has said that some bone cancers are not properly diagnosed until after the horse has passed and a necropsy is done.
Right now, Bailey is on a course of strong antibiotics in the event that there is an infection deep in the bone. We are doing this to cover all bases, but an infection of that sort is not likely due to the fact that Bailey has not been running a high temperature, nor has he been off his feed. An infection like that should make a horse pretty sick.
After the antibiotics, there is the option of x-raying again to see if we can find a pattern of less dense bone in the center of the mass which will indicate that cancer has progressed to eating away at the bone. Perhaps we caught it early and that is why the x-ray did not show the tell-tale shadowing in the center areas of the mass that would indicate cancer.
Unfortunately, if we did catch a cancer early... it won't be helpful to Bailey like it would be to a person. Some equine bone cancers metastasize to other organs very quickly and once they are visible, they have already moved on. And even if this cancer is localized in his jaw... it is where the bit goes, and removal of the mass in it's entirety would be necessary and would disrupt the jaw structure so much that I am not sure it would be wise to attempt for the sake of Bailey's quality of life after such drastic surgery.
So that is where we are. I am giving Bailey time so that his body can decide what it is going to do, and so that we get some clearer indications before making any decisions. For now he is eating well, and the one day we had sunny weather, he was bucking and playing, and driving his pasture mates crazy just like the old Bailey.
P~
Monday, February 25, 2008
Recent Developments
The Second Chance Event Team is potentially going to have a giant setback. My 5 year old gelding Bailey has developed a large bony mass on his jaw. It appears on x-ray to be bone and not an abscess. So far my vet, and a second consulting vet have not been able to determine the cause of the growth. It is directly under the interdental space where the bit goes in the horse's mouth and doesn't seem to involve any teeth or tooth roots where abscesses or fibromas are more common.
The remaining theories are that it is bone healing over an old fracture, or it is a form of bone cancer.
The idea that it is a healing fracture is not likely due to no significant fracture evidence being found on the x-ray... and also it is not likely because I handle Bailey every single day, twice a day, and monitor his food consumption. There is no way in my mind that Bay suffered a broken jaw without my knowing it. He would have been swollen, and resistant to having a halter put on him since the noseband would have hit the traumatized area. And I would think that he would have had a hard time chewing and therefore I would have noticed that he was not eating all his feed.
On Tuesday afternoon, Bailey is scheduled for a bone biopsy which should give us a definitive diagnosis. I will update the blog when I know more.
P~
The remaining theories are that it is bone healing over an old fracture, or it is a form of bone cancer.
The idea that it is a healing fracture is not likely due to no significant fracture evidence being found on the x-ray... and also it is not likely because I handle Bailey every single day, twice a day, and monitor his food consumption. There is no way in my mind that Bay suffered a broken jaw without my knowing it. He would have been swollen, and resistant to having a halter put on him since the noseband would have hit the traumatized area. And I would think that he would have had a hard time chewing and therefore I would have noticed that he was not eating all his feed.
On Tuesday afternoon, Bailey is scheduled for a bone biopsy which should give us a definitive diagnosis. I will update the blog when I know more.
P~
Friday, February 8, 2008
Settling in for the Long Wait
Patience. I wish I had more patience. I am thinking about how patient I am going to have to be as I settle in for the long wait for the baby to be born. I have ridden Tokaj up until almost five months of pregnancy with the promise to myself that I would really concentrate on how I was feeling and stop if it became uncomfortable in any way. Some of you may know that doctors say no riding horses during pregnancy... but their concern is really about falling off... not about bouncing at the trot. You can be a runner, but not a rider in their minds due to what they percieve as a huge risk of falling on your abdomen.
I think the risk can be minimized (to equal that of falling down on your own or a vehicle accident) by riding only gentle, trained, predictable horses in very controlled circumstances like in the indoor arena where I ride Tokaj. That way a spook is unlikely and so are any bucking episodes. So that is what I did. Like I said, I promised myself I would be careful and stop when I felt anything negative.... well, I am calling it quits on riding until after the baby is born. And what is funny is that I really never felt physically BAD, but I can't control my core muscles (abdominals etc) anymore, and I am having a harder time not banging around on poor Tokaj as I get bigger and bigger and bigger... so I have decided that for Tokaj's sake, I will stop now while she still is looking forward to seeing me each day. We aren't progressing on the finer details of our partnership because I am simply too ungainly in my attempts at athletic and subtle communication.
I am bringing Tokaj home this weekend or next week from Stonewall. I will be very sad to go. There are sure a lot of really nice people who board and work at the stable. The great thing (at least I think so now.... ask me when I am 8 months +) is that having the three horses at home gives me something physical to do each day. I get up and do barn chores: clean stalls, feed, take hay to the paddock, water, turn out horses, and groom horses in the morning and in the evening I feed and bring horses in from the pasture. It seems like it should be simple and easy, but with my wide-load... it actually is a workout! :)
I am reluctantly getting into baby stuff. I am such a tomboy. I told my husband that at least he won't be confused as to whether I love the baby or just dressing him/her up like a doll... because I am SO NOT turned on by the frilly baby clothes and cutesy stuff. I know... I'm weird. BUT one good thing about baby stuff I found out is that they have jogging/all terrain strollers that resemble four wheel drive vehicles... and some are even made by JEEP! How cool is that? I am also very excited about baby backpacks (for mom to pack around baby while doing horse stuff). I guess there is something amid all the baby stuff even for the most tomboyish of us moms.
I will continue to update the Second Chance blog especially as the arena begins to be constructed. That is something new to me and it is quite a challenge to design an arna with proper base and footing, when you have never done it before and especially when you have not done it in a rainy/wet/muddy state. AND I have to explain to a excavation company how to do it since no one (in my price range) specializes in all-weather riding surfaces.
P~
I think the risk can be minimized (to equal that of falling down on your own or a vehicle accident) by riding only gentle, trained, predictable horses in very controlled circumstances like in the indoor arena where I ride Tokaj. That way a spook is unlikely and so are any bucking episodes. So that is what I did. Like I said, I promised myself I would be careful and stop when I felt anything negative.... well, I am calling it quits on riding until after the baby is born. And what is funny is that I really never felt physically BAD, but I can't control my core muscles (abdominals etc) anymore, and I am having a harder time not banging around on poor Tokaj as I get bigger and bigger and bigger... so I have decided that for Tokaj's sake, I will stop now while she still is looking forward to seeing me each day. We aren't progressing on the finer details of our partnership because I am simply too ungainly in my attempts at athletic and subtle communication.
I am bringing Tokaj home this weekend or next week from Stonewall. I will be very sad to go. There are sure a lot of really nice people who board and work at the stable. The great thing (at least I think so now.... ask me when I am 8 months +) is that having the three horses at home gives me something physical to do each day. I get up and do barn chores: clean stalls, feed, take hay to the paddock, water, turn out horses, and groom horses in the morning and in the evening I feed and bring horses in from the pasture. It seems like it should be simple and easy, but with my wide-load... it actually is a workout! :)
I am reluctantly getting into baby stuff. I am such a tomboy. I told my husband that at least he won't be confused as to whether I love the baby or just dressing him/her up like a doll... because I am SO NOT turned on by the frilly baby clothes and cutesy stuff. I know... I'm weird. BUT one good thing about baby stuff I found out is that they have jogging/all terrain strollers that resemble four wheel drive vehicles... and some are even made by JEEP! How cool is that? I am also very excited about baby backpacks (for mom to pack around baby while doing horse stuff). I guess there is something amid all the baby stuff even for the most tomboyish of us moms.
I will continue to update the Second Chance blog especially as the arena begins to be constructed. That is something new to me and it is quite a challenge to design an arna with proper base and footing, when you have never done it before and especially when you have not done it in a rainy/wet/muddy state. AND I have to explain to a excavation company how to do it since no one (in my price range) specializes in all-weather riding surfaces.
P~
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
2008 Update
Well it is 2008! I think it is going to be a great year for the Second Chance Event Team. We are still in a building process and have some obstacles to overcome... like not having our own arena to work in... but by 2009 we are going to be up and running.
The plans for 2008 are for Tokaj and I to keep building a partnership. She is coming along really well. She is currently being stabled at Stonewall Farm in Kearney, MO where they have a fabulous indoor arena with synthetic footing that is just lovely to ride on. I will have Tokaj at Stonewall for the rest of January and also February. I am hoping to give Tokaj as much time as I can these next couple of months because I will be laying her off for a few months this Spring and Summer since my husband and I are expecting our first baby.
I know, I know, I can hear you all now.... "How are you going to continue your dream to event if you have a baby?" And my answer to you is that I am going to see how it goes, but it seems to me that there are plenty of eventers who have children. I am going to work with my husband to figure out how to make it work. I know it will be work, but nothing in my life that has been worthwhile has been easy so I am not scared of a little hard work. Also, my super-supportive husband is cheering me on and vows to be a very active dad so that I can take a couple hours each day to train.
One thing that needs to be established before I can really have goals, is that I need a place to ride at home. With a baby, there is going to be no way to trailer every time I need to ride. So this Spring, plans are in the works to build an outdoor arena that can accomodate a short dressage court, and also be big enough for a course of jumps. I am thinking that by September, or October of 2008, that I will be making my way back into the saddle and be ready for fall and winter clinics and be competition fit by 2009. Really, it is not that far away! :)
Bailey and Savannah are my two young horses, and they are also my biggest concern. I was hoping to find someone out here in MO who I would trust to put some time in on them... but so far I haven't met anyone who specializes in young horses, or who I would trust to get them going correctly. I need to start asking around. Ideally, I would like for Bailey to get some riding in 2008 to further his education, and it would be nice for Savannah to be a riding horse and not a pasture ornament by the time I get back in shape enough to ride in the Fall. My very ambitious goals for them is to start competing Bailey in 2009 at lower level events, and to take Savannah on trail rides (she will be 4 years old) and to dressage schooling shows, as well as introducing her to jumping. Three horses will be a lot to keep going while also raising a baby, but I think with the right facilities here at home, and if I am willing to seek help with the young horses, that it can be done.
We have an exciting year ahead! Well, I better get going to ride Tokaj...
P~
The plans for 2008 are for Tokaj and I to keep building a partnership. She is coming along really well. She is currently being stabled at Stonewall Farm in Kearney, MO where they have a fabulous indoor arena with synthetic footing that is just lovely to ride on. I will have Tokaj at Stonewall for the rest of January and also February. I am hoping to give Tokaj as much time as I can these next couple of months because I will be laying her off for a few months this Spring and Summer since my husband and I are expecting our first baby.
I know, I know, I can hear you all now.... "How are you going to continue your dream to event if you have a baby?" And my answer to you is that I am going to see how it goes, but it seems to me that there are plenty of eventers who have children. I am going to work with my husband to figure out how to make it work. I know it will be work, but nothing in my life that has been worthwhile has been easy so I am not scared of a little hard work. Also, my super-supportive husband is cheering me on and vows to be a very active dad so that I can take a couple hours each day to train.
One thing that needs to be established before I can really have goals, is that I need a place to ride at home. With a baby, there is going to be no way to trailer every time I need to ride. So this Spring, plans are in the works to build an outdoor arena that can accomodate a short dressage court, and also be big enough for a course of jumps. I am thinking that by September, or October of 2008, that I will be making my way back into the saddle and be ready for fall and winter clinics and be competition fit by 2009. Really, it is not that far away! :)
Bailey and Savannah are my two young horses, and they are also my biggest concern. I was hoping to find someone out here in MO who I would trust to put some time in on them... but so far I haven't met anyone who specializes in young horses, or who I would trust to get them going correctly. I need to start asking around. Ideally, I would like for Bailey to get some riding in 2008 to further his education, and it would be nice for Savannah to be a riding horse and not a pasture ornament by the time I get back in shape enough to ride in the Fall. My very ambitious goals for them is to start competing Bailey in 2009 at lower level events, and to take Savannah on trail rides (she will be 4 years old) and to dressage schooling shows, as well as introducing her to jumping. Three horses will be a lot to keep going while also raising a baby, but I think with the right facilities here at home, and if I am willing to seek help with the young horses, that it can be done.
We have an exciting year ahead! Well, I better get going to ride Tokaj...
P~
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